TWO local young leaders, Elsie Kanza, a director at the World Economic Forum and Kawe MP (Chadema) Halima Mdee are among 11 top African women political power players.

According to Microsoft, a US-based software giant, Ms Kanza and Ms Mdee, who is also Shadow Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, join the list of powerful women politicians on the continent.

The list also includes Malawian President Joyce Banda and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. "The year 2012 was a good year for female politicians in Africa, with two female presidents and a female leader of the African Union.

The software giant looks at 11 women who are making their mark in African politics," said a statement posted on the firm's website yesterday. Other leading African female personalities include Kenyan Member of Parliament Charity Ngilu.

Also in the list are Rwandan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Louise Mushikiwabo and her Health portfolio peer, Agnes Binagwaho. Others are African Union President, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma; Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Zimbabwe Vice-President Joice Mujuru and the Chairwoman of the Convention People's Party of Ghana, Samia Nkrumah.